Chapter 03

"You may now kiss your bride," he heard the officiant say. If Jeff had thought that Rhoda would stand on her words about not getting married to him, he was terribly wrong. 

He could not help but glare at her with anger and building dislike for her. How could someone not be able to stand on their words? What was so wrong in doing that? 

Guilt was ripping him alive. What would he tell his girlfriend? How would he be able to face her? She definitely wouldn't believe his story about the marriage. Who would? 

He loved his girlfriend and not this beautiful stranger with tempting lips that was glaring at him behind the veil with the same intensity he had on. 

But what needed to be done must be done. So, he leaned closer to her face and unveiled her, but what she did shocked him.

She backed off. Rhoda pulled back in front of everyone. "If you try it…," she whispered.

"You'll kill me, so you said. But you don't have to worry because you're not my type at all. You should see my girlfriend," Jeff whispered in her ear.

Rhoda frowned and looked at the officiator to see if he heard them, but the man was just smiling as he waited. Oh, how little did he know! She turned back to the guy before her. "Congrats, but you're not my type as well. Not a pervert," she said through gritted teeth. 

"Kiss," someone from the audience shouted. 

And angrily, Rhoda fired back. "Shut up, we'll kiss." She regretted that immediately, so she smiled and apologized while Jeff mocked her. "That was just a joke," she said to the audience and looked back at her husband. 

Husband? That title sounded weird. Everything was even weird. Before she could say any more words, Jeff placed his hand on her neck and waist, tilted her head up, and leaned down to kiss her right on the lips. It was just a long touch of lips to lips, but as the touch lingered, he hated to admit that he liked how supple her lips felt so, he decided to open his mouth slightly and pulled in her lips to savour them for the briefest moment but she pulled away gently and glared at him.

"What the ——"

"Shut the fuck up and smile. Don't get flattered. It meant nothing."

★★★

After the wedding, Rhoda's mother came to where she was sitting in the dressing room, but Rhoda immediately turned her head away at the sight of her mother. She would have loved to walk out, but the dress was too heavy to allow her to stand on her own. 

"Rhoda," her mother called but she acted as if she wasn't present. "I know I have been a terrible mother to you. I know your father and I have been so cruel to you, baby. But we're sorry. We will never forget you, not even for a moment. And about this marriage thing, I…"

Rhoda looked at her mother. "I don't want to hear it, mum. You know I only agreed to this because you made aunt Martha call me. But know this, I will never forget what you both did to me." A tear fell from her left eye.

Meredith reached out to wipe it, but she turned her head. 

"Don't touch me. Please." Her eyes strayed to the open door and saw the guy she got married to in passing. "Hey!" She shouted, hoping he would hear her. 

"Do not call your husband like that," her mother corrected. 

Rhoda almost burst into laughter. Was she being serious? Her husband? "You want me to refer to a stranger as my love? Or darling? Are you seriously doing this, mum? What has gotten over you?"

Her mother had not given an answer when her husband waltz into the room and her mother walked out of the room. "Hey? Did you call me hey?"

"I never said I was referring to you, but since you answered, I guess it was you. Come closer," she said and he walked closer.

"My name is Jeff. And I was actually looking for you. We need to go."

Rhoda held his arm and stood. They said nothing as he walked her to his Ferrari. 

"Hey, buddy. I'm taking my leave now as well," a friend said to Jeff. 

"Thanks, Francis. I'll call you."

"Welcome to the family, Rhoda," Francis said to Rhoda, but she said nothing but smiled at him before he took his leave.

She turned to face Jeff. "You didn't have to borrow a car, you know?"

Jeff was taken aback. That was the least of his cars, but he decided to say nothing as he drove to his mansion.

Rhoda's mouth was agape as they got to his house. He wasn't surprised. Everyone marveled at his house. He knew he must have felt like she was in some movie or fantasy island. He knew he guessed right when a 'Wow' escaped her lips. 

"You like what you see? Count yourself lucky to be my wife," he said ironically with a glare. 

"Lucky, my foot! I don't give a fuck where you live or how much you're worth. You're nothing but a pervert. Who knows if you're even a drug dealer?" Rhoda said as they walked in while she helped herself with her bags. Who knew that her bags would end up at a stranger's house instead of her parents'.

Jeff laughed. "Drug dealer indeed! Anyway, the first room upstairs by your right is a forbidden one. You can choose any other one except that."

"Don't dream about sharing a room with me, too. I was going to ask you where the guest room was, but thank you," she said angrily and started walking up the stairs.

"If you step on your huge dress and fall, there will be no prince charming to help you up, so you better be careful and watch your steps," Jeff asserted. 

"Mind your fucking business, asshole."

Jeff raised his hand in surrender and decided to take her advice. He started walking up the stairs and surprisingly, just as he had predicted, she was on the floor in front of his room, groaning. 

"Fuck these heels," she said as she tried to get up, but couldn't. She tried and failed multiple times and looked at Jeffrey for help. "Hey!" She called.

Jeff feigned deaf as he whistled and opened the door to the master's bedroom and walked in. "Fuck you!" He heard her say and smiled. He didn't give a fuck about that. It was none of his business.

He got into the shower and washed himself, then changed into casual wear. He needed a bath to calm himself if he was going to think about explaining the situation to his girlfriend. He opened the door to his bedroom to see if his wife was still on the floor and surprisingly, she was still struggling there. 

He sighed which made her look up at him. "I don't know why they had to get me a dress that weighed more than I do. And these fucking heels are… Gosh!" She looked up at him. "You're seriously not going to help me up?"

He folded his hands and leaned on the door frame. "You asked me to mind my fucking business, so no, I'm not helping you up. Not even after you called me an asshole. You can sleep there till tomorrow. The floor is neat and you don't have to be afraid of mosquitoes. You won't find any. Goodnight." With that, he turned back and closed the door.

"Baby!" He heard someone calling and his eyes widened. That was his girlfriend and —— Wait, his bride was still on the floor outside his room.